OCTOBER 2016 Mobile Apps and Transportation: A Review of Smartphone Apps and a Study of User Response to Multimodal Traveler Information Final Report Susan Shaheen, Ph.D. Elliot Martin, PH.D. Adam Cohen Apoorva Musunuri Abhinav Bhattacharyya tsrc Mobile Apps and Transportation: A Review of Smartphone Apps and a Study of User Response to Multimodal Traveler Information Final Report Susan Shaheen, Ph.D. Elliot Martin, Ph.D. Adam Cohen Apoorva Musunuri Abhinav Bhattachharyya October 2016 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA • DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADA Notice TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document is available in alternate TR0003 (REV 10/98) formats. For information call (916) 654-6410 or TDD (916) 654-3880 or write Records and Forms Management, 1120 N Street, MS-89, Sacramento, CA 95814. 1. REPORT NUMBER 2. GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION NUMBER 3. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE Mobile Apps and Transportation: A Review of Smartphone Apps and A Study of User Response to Multimodal Traveler Information October 2016 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE N/A 7. AUTHOR 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO. Susan Shaheen, Elliot Martin, Adam Cohen, Apoorva Musunuri, Abhinav Bhattacharyya N/A 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. WORK UNIT NUMBER University of California at Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies N/A Berkeley, CA 94720 11. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER XXXXX 12. SPONSORING AGENCY AND ADDRESS 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Final Report, April 2015 - October 2016 Division of Research, Innovation and System Information, MS-83 1227 O Street Sacramento, CA 95814 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE N/A 15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 16. ABSTRACT In recent years, technological and social forces have pushed smartphone applications (apps) from the fringe to the mainstream. Understanding the role of transportation apps in urban mobility is important for policy development and transportation planners. This study evaluates the role and impact of multimodal aggregators from a variety of perspectives, including a literature review; a review of the most innovative, disruptive, and highest-rated transportation apps; interviews with experts in the industry, and a user survey of former multimodal aggregator RideScout users. Between February and April 2016, researchers conducted interviews with experts to gain a stronger understanding about challenges and benefits of data sharing between private companies and public agencies. Key findings from the expert interviews include the critical need to protect user privacy; the potential to use data sharing to address integrated corridor and congestion management as well as various pricing strategies during peak hours; along with the potential benefits for improving coordination between the public and private sectors. In March 2016, researchers surveyed 130 people who had downloaded the RideScout app to evaluate attitudes and perceptions toward mobile apps, travel behavior, and modal shift. The goal was to enhance understanding of how the multimodal apps were impacting the transportation behavior. The survey did found that respondents used multimodal apps in ways that yielded travel that was less energy intensive and more supportive of public transit. Looking to the future, smartphone applications and more specifically multimodal aggregators, may offer the potential for transportation planners and policymakers to enhance their understanding of multimodal travel behavior, share data, enhance collaboration, and identify opportunities for public-private partnerships. 17. KEY WORDS 18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT Multimodal smartphone apps, travel behavior, No Restriction 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION (of this report) 20. NUMBER OF PAGES 21. COST OF REPORT CHARGED Unclassified Reproduction of completed page authorized. Table of Contents Disclaimer Statement ...................................................................................................................... 6 Disclosure Statement ...................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 7 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.1. Overview .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.2. Problem and Objectives ................................................................................................... 9 2. Background ............................................................................................................................... 11 2.1. The Emergence of Mobility Apps and Their Impact on Multimodal Travel ................. 11 2.2. Multimodal Travel .......................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Socioeconomic and Behavioral Research .................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Multimodal Modeling .................................................................................................. 12 2.3. Smartphone Apps ........................................................................................................... 12 2.4. Mobility Apps Impacting Transportation ....................................................................... 14 2.5. Case Studies of Select Multimodal Mobility Apps ........................................................ 15 2.6. Impacts of Mobile Apps on Travel Behavior ................................................................. 18 3. Review of Smartphone Apps ................................................................................................ 20 3.1. App Shortlist Methodology ............................................................................................ 20 3.1.1. Cataloging ............................................................................................................... 21 3.1.2. Process of Elimination ............................................................................................ 22 3.1.3. Categorizing ............................................................................................................ 22 3.1.4. Specific Procedures ................................................................................................. 24 3.2. Most Innovative Apps .................................................................................................... 25 3.3. Most Disruptive Apps .................................................................................................... 31 3.4. Highest-Rated Apps ....................................................................................................... 38 4. Expert Interviews .................................................................................................................. 43 4.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................ 43 4.2. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 43 4.3. Questionnaire and Experts ............................................................................................. 43 4.4. Expert Interview Key Findings ...................................................................................... 44 2 4.4.1. Private Companies on Data Sharing ....................................................................... 45 4.4.2. Public Agencies on Data Sharing ........................................................................... 45 4.4.3. Most Beneficial Data Sharing Collaboration .......................................................... 45 4.4.4. Types of Data Being Collected and Shared ............................................................ 46 4.4.5. Privacy Concerns .................................................................................................... 46 4.4.6. Benefits to The End User ........................................................................................ 47 4.4.7. Recommendations For Improving Data Sharing Collaborations ............................ 47 4.4.8. Contributions to City Planning Process .................................................................. 47 4.4.9. Collecting Person Miles Traveled (PMT) ............................................................... 48 4.4.10. Future of Data Sharing in The Next 5-10 Years ................................................. 48 5. User Survey and Results ....................................................................................................... 49 5.1. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 49 5.2. Results ............................................................................................................................ 49 5.2.1. Socio-Demographic Analysis of the Sample Population ........................................ 49 5.2.2. General Travel Behavior ........................................................................................